Fence post



Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES HARRY NIELSEN, OF ASKQV, MINNESOTA FENCE Postr f Application filed. May 14, 1931. Serial No. 537,402.

This invention relates to new and useful improvement-s in fence posts andv has for its primary object to provide, v1n a manner as hereinafter set forth,a device of this character embodying novel means for securing fence wire thereto fin a manner to prevent accidentaldetachmentof the Wire from the post but permitting removal of the wire when desired by properly manipulating the securing means.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a fence post of the character described which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, eiicient and reliable in use and which may be manufactured at lowcost. i All of the foregoing and still further ob-l jects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein A j Figure 1 is a View inside elevation showing a portion of a fence post constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a View .taken at right angles to Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal cross section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure l looking downwardly, as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail View in perspective of the resilient keeper showing the same detached from the post.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the post is designated generally by the reference numeral l, an

intermediate portion only of said post be- 4 5 1 has formed therein substantially rectangular, vertically extending openings only one of which is shown and designated by the reference numeral 4. v The opening 4 communicates, at an intermediate point,

5G with the free edge of theportion 2 of the post l through passage 5.

At its lower end the opening 4 is provided witha reduced extension in the form of a slit 6, the outer wall of which constitutes Ytlieinedium of a slot or an extension of the outer wall of the `opening .4. The extension or slit 6 is for the recepposed in spaced relation to the upper end wall of the opening 4. I Aswill be apparent, l

the purpose y.of the keeper' is .toretain the fence wire`9 in theopening 4.

In use, the wire insertedin the opening 4 through the slot or passage ,5 -by flexing the vkeeper 7 inwardly and passing the wire over the free end thereof afterwhich said keeper springsback to its operative position against the youter wall ,of -thefopening 4, thereby closinor the slot or passage 5. It will b e noted tiat the keeperis mounted in position on' the fence ,post without the use of extraneous securing means, such as i solder or rivet and 1without the necessity of welding. This constitutes an important and desirable feature of the invention, as will be readily appreciated. s

It is 'believed that the many advantages of a fence ypost constructed in accordance with this invention will lbe readily understood, andalthough ythe preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is'tol be understood that changes in the .detailso/ f construction and in the combination vand `arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention jas claimed. `What is .claimed is 1 fence post of the character described havingan opening therein for the reception of a fence wire yand furtherv having a slot therein for the passage of the Wire into the opening from one side of the post, said post still further having a slit communicating with the opening, and a keeper mounted on the post for retaining a Wire in the opening, said keeper comprising a resilient tongue having an end portion disposed in the slit, and integral ianges on said one end portion of the tongue disposed on opposite sides of the post for retaining the tongue in position. j

2. A fence post of the character described having an opening therein for the reception of a fence Wire and further having a slot communicating with an intermediate portion of the opening for the passage of the fence Wire thereinto from one side of the post, said post still further having a slit therein communicating With the opening at one end and constituting a reduced extension to said opening, and a keeper for retaining the fence Wire in the opening, said keeper comprising a resilient tongue extending normally across the inner end 0f the slot in the opening in a manner to close said slot, one end portion of the tongue being disposed in the slit, and lianges formed integrally With said one end portion of the tongue and disposed on opposite sides of the post for retaining the tongue in position.

3. A fence post of the character described having a substantially rectangular, vertically extending opening therein for the reception of a fence Wire, said post` further having a transverse slot communicating With the opening at an intermediate point for the passage of the tence Wire into said opening from one side of the post, said post still further having a slit therein communicating with one end of the opening and constituting a reduced extension to said opening, and a keeper for retaining the fence Wire in the opening, said keeper comprising a resilient tongue having one end inserted in the slit, and retaining fianges formed integrally on said one end of the tongue and extending therefrom adjacent opposite sides of the post for securing the tongue in position thereon, said tongue normally extending over the inner end of the slot in a manner to close said slot and having its free end disposed immediately adjacent the other end of the opening.

l. A tence post of the character described having a substantially rectangular, elongated opening extending vertically therein for the reception of `a fence Wire, said post further having a transverse slot extending from one side edge and merging with the j opening at an intermediate point in said opening for the passage of the Wire thereinto from said one side of the post, said post still further having a vertically disposed slit therein communicating With the opening at the lower end of said opening, said slit constituting a reduced extension to the opening and having one Wall flush With the Wall of the opening Which is adjacent said one side of the post, and a keeper for retaining a Wire in the opening, said keeper comprising a resilient, metallic tongue having one end portion disposed in the slit, said keeper normally extending in abutting engagement with said one Wall of the opening over the inner end of the slot in a manner to close the said slot and having its free end normally disposed immediately adjacent the other end of the opening.

5. A fence post of the character described having a substantially rectangular, elongated opening extending vertically therein for the reception of a fence Wire, said post further havingl a transverse slot extending from one side edge and merging With the openin g at an intermediate point in said opening for the passage of the Wire thereinto from said one side of the post, said post still further having a vertically disposed slit therein communicating With the opening at the lower end of said opening, said slit constituting a reduced extension to the opening and having one Wall flush with the Wall of the opening Which is adjacent said one side of the post, and a keeper for retaining a Wire in the opening, said keeper comprising a resilient, metallic tongue having one end portion disposed in the slit, said keeper normally extending in abutting engagement With said one Wall ot the opening over the inner end of the slot in a manner to close the said slot and having its free end normally disposed immediately adjacent the other end of the opening, said tongue adapted to be flexed away from said one Wall of the opening for the insertion and removal of the fence Wire around the free end thereof, and retaining ianges on said one end portion of the tongue extending adjacent opposite sides of the post for retaining the tongue in position.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature.

' HARRY NIELSEN. 

